Jentashapir Journal of Cellular and Molecular Biology
Year:2016 | Volume:7 | Issue:2|Papers Count:7

Introduction: The brachial plexus, a complex network of nerves, innervates to the upper limbs. Variation in the course of the nerves in the upper limb is common.Case Presentation: This paper describes two cases of upper limb variations in a cadaver dissected at Lorestan University of Medical Sciences. In the first variation, the median nerve in the arm has a different route, so that the median moves deep into the brachialis muscle. In the latter case, after piercing the coracobrachialis muscle a musculocutaneous nerve exists between the brachialis and bicepsandgoes to the lateral region of the forearm. This is known as the lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm nerve, and innervates the skin of the lateral part of the forearm and the dorsal part of the hand.Conclusions: Because of the possibility of damage to the brachial plexus branches is high in upper limb injuries and surgeries, full knowledge of normal anatomy and variations of these branches is essential for orthopedic specialists, neurosurgeons, radiologists, and anatomists.

In recent years, the central role of signaling molecules, such as hormones, cytokines and growth factors, has become evident in both physiological and pathological processes; these signaling molecules are the main regulating effectors of whole body biological functions, in accordance with the guiding principle of psychoneuroendocrine immunology (PNEI). Low dose medicine (LDM) represents an innovative medical approach in which the latest evidence in the fields of molecular biology, PNEI and nano-concentration pharmacology are merged. LDM suggests the use of low-doses of activated biological molecules in order to manage PNEI homeostasis, and this approach represents a new opportunity for the development of therapeutic strategies based on immune balancing interventions. Scientific evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of the LDM approach in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris, and positive preliminary data regarding the oral administration of low dose activated cytokines for vitiligo and atopic dermatitis treatment, support the LDM-based therapeutic approach for many dermatological diseases.

Background: One of the techniques used in infertility centers for separating the spermatozoa containing Y or X chromosomes is the Ericsson method. It is simple, cheap, and practical without using any toxic material. There are contradictory reports regarding the efficiency of this extremely reliable method.Objectives: The study aimed to assess the separation of X- and Y-chromosome bearing sperms of fertile men on albumin gradients using real time PCR.Patients and Methods: In this study, 20 samples of human semen were investigated using Ericssonmethod. After preparation of samples with Ham’s F10 medium, X- and Y-chromosome bearing sperms of samples were separated using albumin gradient, and sperms DNA was extracted by Bioneer kit. Using primers designed for SRY and HPRT genes and ALBUMIN gene, PCR was performed with real time method using SYBR green method, also ΔΔCt method analysis was used to measure the amount of sperms with Y chromosome. Data were analyzed using t test by SPSS and P<0.05 was considered as significance level.Results: Mean percentage of Y-bearing sperms in the albumin and the control groups were 75.80% (20 samples of human semen) and 49.48%, respectively. Comparing the mean percentages of Y-bearing sperms in albumin and control groups, the difference was found statistically significant (P=0.001).Conclusions: Albumin gradient method is the enrichment of Y-bearing chromosome sperms. Separation of spermatozoa by albumin gradient method, introduced by Ericsson, is a suitable method for sex selection of male offspring. This technique is safe, because it neither requires toxic materials during sperm separation, nor involves embryo manipulation.

Background: Stress induced by sleep deprivation can cause degradation of learning in the acquisition phase, and low-intensity exercise can prevent the negative effects of stress.Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the moderating role of aerobic exercise on spatial memory and learning following stress-induced insomnia (sleep REM) in animal models.Materials and Methods: This experimental study was conducted on adult male Wistar rats that were randomly divided into two groups. Both groups were exposed to sleep deprivation induced stress, following which the experimental group was exposed to exercise training (experimental, n=8; control, n=8). The stress intervention was undertaken through 24 hours of sleep deprivation using a modified sleep deprivation platform (MMD). The exercise protocol included mild aerobic exerciseona treadmill (30 minutes a day, seven days), and MorrisWater Maze (MWM) protocols were applied to assess spatialmemory and learning. Data were analyzed by an independent t-test and dependent t-test.Results: The results showed that, after seven days of aerobic exercise on a treadmill, the experimental group showed better performance escape latency (P<0.05) and distance traveled (P<0.05) than the control group in the MWM, while there was no difference between these two groups in the pre-test.Conclusions: The role of exercise is greater in the retention than the acquisition phase for recalling past experiences.

Background: Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders. Over the last few years, the relationship between the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis and depression has been the focus of increasing attention. Objectives: In this study, the serum levels of T3, T4, and TSH in patients with major depressive disorder have been compared to the healthy adults in Hamedan, northwestern Iran.Patients and Methods: In this case-control study, serum levels of T3, T4, and TSH were measured in 32 patients with major depression, diagnosed according to the beck depression inventory (BDI), who were referred to the Hamedan psychiatric hospital and were age- and sex-matched normal adults. Sampling was conducted through convenience sampling in a completely randomized design. Data were analyzed using an independent t-test and a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. A logistic regression model was used for depression occurrence probability prediction.Results: Serum T4 and TSH levels were significantly higher in depressive patients than in the control group (P=0.01), whereas there was no significant difference in T3 serum levels between the two groups (P=0.08). The serum TSH level was significantly higher in depressive patients compared to non-depressive patients (P=0.001). According to logistic regression analysis, a one unit increase in serum T4 or TSH levels may enhance non-clinical depression probability by 1.3 or 1.7 times and clinical depression probability by 1.2 or 2.9 times, respectively.Conclusions: Serum T4 and TSH levels in depressive patients were found to be significantly higher than those of the control group, indicating the association between serum T4 and TSH levels and depression in the subjects in 2010-2011 in Hamedan, northwestern Iran.

Background: Because IL2RA is considered a predisposing factor in the incidence of both type I diabetes and multiple sclerosis (MS), and considering that both are autoimmune diseases, some studies suggest a correlation between type I diabetes and MS. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of type I diabetes among people with MS. Patients and Methods: The study subjects comprised 100 patients with MS from the Khuzestan multiple sclerosis center at rehabilitation school of Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, whose diagnosis of MS had been confirmed by a specialist, and were not being treated with steroids. Subjects were selected from patients younger than 30 years old. After filling out an application form, 5 mL fasting venous blood and 5 mL after 2 hours were taken. The blood glucose level was measured with a kit (Zist Shimi) using the enzymatic method.Results: The mean age of the participants was 24.28 years. The rate of type I diabetes was equal to 4% of the total sample, while 18% of all patients had impaired fasting glucose.Conclusions: Given the high level of impaired fasting glucose among patients in this study, it is likely that MS provides the basis for the incidence of glucose metabolism disorders. To prove this, further studies with larger sample sizes are required.

Background: Gonad shielding is one of the fundamental methods by which to protect reproductive organs in patients undergoing conventional radiological examinations. A lack of or inadequate shielding of the gonads may increase the exposure of these organs and result in malignancies future generations.Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of gonad shielding in patients undergoing conventional radiological examinations and the availability of gonad shields and gonad shielding protocols in radiology departments. Materials and Methods: A retrospective, observational cross-sectional study on the application of gonad shielding, the availability of gonad shields and the existence of gonad shielding protocols in radiology departments was performed in five different hospitals in Ahvaz, Iran.Results: The highest application of gonad shielding was 6.6% for the pediatric hospital. The prevalence of gonad shielding was less than 0.2%. In 64.3% of the radiography rooms, at least one flat-contact gonad shield of a large size was available. Only large-sized gonad shields were available. Curved-contact and shadow gonad shields did not exist. Gonad shielding protocols were not existence in any of the fourteen radiography rooms investigated.Conclusions: Comprehensive protection programs with on-the-job training courses for staff members are strongly recommended, as well as, the provision of radiological shields and gonad shielding protocols in radiology departments to reduce the patient’s radiation dose during radiological examinations.